Walt Disney World just reopened multiple rides across its theme parks, plus added new experiences ahead of the summer season, which creates a big impact on the way you tour Disney World in summer.
Disney World’s skip-the-line system, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, has been impacted by these changes. Let’s get into all these major changes and how I recommend adjusting your touring strategy this summer. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the new pin trading rule changes at Disneyland and a new ride closure to an opening day attraction.
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Magic Kingdom Offering More Lightning Lane Selections
All the changes made to Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom have been positive, with an increase in available selections now that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened.
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First up, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reopened on April 8 with a new overhaul that included new ride vehicles and handheld blasters. A new character was also introduced, a friendly robot named “Buddy” that will immerse guests more directly into the experience. When Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reopened, it rejoined the second grouping of Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections.
This change was followed by the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on May 3, which reopened after a year-long refurbishment. The new changes to this beloved attraction include new effects, lighting, scenery, and a smoother track. When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened, it rejoined the first grouping of Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections, often referred to as Tier 1 by Disney fans. The first selection of groupings includes the most popular rides, limiting guests to only selecting one of those in advance, and the other two of their selections form the second group.
Now, Magic Kingdom is operating again with two of its key attractions, which both offer Lightning Lane, so Magic Kingdom is one of the best Disney World parks to get the most value out of your Lightning Lane Multi Pass purchase.
Soarin’ Over America Spreads Out EPCOT Demand
EPCOT is a theme park that struggles with how helpful Lightning Lane is, since only a few attractions in the park really need it. Those attractions include Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. All of these attractions, except for Guardians, are included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
As of May 26, the new storyline for Soarin’ is available, so this might take some pressure off the other popular rides and spread out demand across the park. The new Soarin’ storyline celebrates the United States’ 250th anniversary. This tribute to the United States is called Soarin’ Across America and is the third reimagining of the popular attraction. Soarin’ Across America is part of the second grouping of selections for Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
The bad news is that all the most popular options for Lightning Lanes at EPCOT are Tier 1 options, meaning you can only pick one in advance. It’s not uncommon to only be able to snag one, maybe two, Lightning Lane options for these Tier 1 attractions in the park, which starts to make the cost of Lightning Lane Multi Pass worth far less at EPCOT. All the other attractions on the list can easily be accessed with low waits, aside from Soarin’.
Now that Soarin’ Across America is available, this might increase demand for this ride and pull crowds away from the World Showcase area of the park. But aside from that, I don’t foresee any major impact on the value of Lightning Lane, so the better strategy for EPCOT might be to skip Lightning Lane entirely. Instead, use Single Rider for Test Track and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and rope drop the other in-demand attractions like Frozen Ever After and Soarin’.
If I were to purchase Lightning Lane for EPCOT for this summer, I would purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind instead.
New Ride Overlays Open with Rave Reviews
Hollywood Studios is a theme park that I always recommend purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass for. This theme park has a long list of popular attractions, all with consistently long lines. This theme park also just underwent big changes with the new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster reopening with its new Muppets theme on May 26. This new theme includes fan-favorites Muppets, including Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band, as well as their friends Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the gang. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets reopened as a Tier 1 attraction in the first grouping of Lightning Lane selections.
This attraction was already popular for Lightning Lane selections, but not quite as in demand as other thrill options like Slinky Dog Dash. Now that might change as the changes to this ride have been met with rave reviews, which could create more demand for this Lightning Lane.
This isn’t the only increase in demand for a ride that offers Lightning Lane. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run just debuted new missions and updated storylines featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu, which may also increase demand for this Lightning Lane selection. This new experience launched on May 22, and we loved the changes to this ride. One of the biggest improvements for the ride includes the option for the engineer to pick the destination for the journey.
Now that the positive reviews are in for this major ride change, the once readily available Lightning Lane for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will likely increase in demand. Disney is also aware of this and has kept Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run as part of the Tier 1 groupings, which includes Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Slinky Dog Dash.
The good news is that another attraction has been added to the Lightning Lane selections, in the second grouping, with the opening of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! as part of the reimagined The Walt Disney Studios courtyard. The rest of the experiences in the courtyard will open later this summer, but for now, this addition does help spread out demand for Lightning Lane selections.
Hollywood Studios is the one park at Disney World that you truly need to purchase Lightning Multi Pass for!
New Bluey Experience Filling DINOSAUR Void
Animal Kingdom has been one Lightning Lane selection short since DINOSAUR closed permanently on February 2. The lines for Animal Kingdom’s other thrill rides have been longer since the closure, with demand for other Lighting Lane Multi Pass selections increasing since there is now one less option to choose from among eligible attractions.
Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station opened May 26, which was formerly known as Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Guests need to use a virtual queue to access this Bluey experience, and there is currently no standby line offered. Bluey virtual queue reservations will drop twice daily, at 7 AM and 10 AM.
Disney will likely eventually phase out the virtual queue for Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station, but did not specify an exact date for its discontinuation. If demand continues for this experience, it would not be unusual to see the Bluey experience added as a Lightning Lane selection to replace the virtual queue.
Purchasing Lightning Lane for Animal Kingdom is often not worth it, especially now that the selections are fewer since the closure of DINOSAUR. This is one park I would save your money on and instead plan on rope dropping to skip longer wait times.
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With summer crowds ahead for Disney World, these Lightning Lane changes could have a major impact on how guests plan their park days. Travelers heading to the resort in the coming months should prepare for these new Lightning Lane changes to plan their strategies.
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